PT Student Engagement and Retention Specialist
Virginia Community Colleges
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Job summary
Southwest Virginia Community College seeks a PT Student Engagement and Retention Specialist in Tazewell, VA to improve student success, belonging, and persistence through proactive outreach and engagement programs. The role emphasizes early alert outreach, event planning, and collaboration with Advising, Enrollment Management, and Financial Aid.
The position is part-time (up to 29 hours/week) with a schedule that may include days, evenings, and weekends, and requires in-state residency.
Qualifications
- Experience working with students in higher education, advising, student activities, enrollment services, or customer service environments.
- Strong interpersonal, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Experience planning events and engagement initiatives preferred.
Responsibilities
- Plan and execute Back-to-School Bash and engagement events.
- Coordinate Welcome Tent activities and resources for new/returning students.
- Plan End-of-Year Celebration recognizing student involvement.
- Monitor early alert outreach and contact high-risk students.
- Collaborate with Advising, Enrollment Management, Financial Aid, and Student Affairs.
- Maintain outreach records and report retention outcomes.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth's Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly called a Certificate of Disability) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans may also apply via the AHP if they also provide an AHP Letter. To request an AHP Letter, use this link: https://www.dars.virginia.gov/drs/cpid/PWContact.aspx or call DARS at 800-552-5019, or DBVI at 800-622-2155
To be considered for this position, you must complete the full state application. Please visit www.jobs.vccs.edu to apply.
Working Title PT Student Engagement and Retention Specialist
Role Code 29144-SW
FLSA Nonexempt
Pay Band 04
Position Number 294W0144
Agency Southwest Virginia Community College
Division Southwest Virginia Community College (Div)
Work Location Tazewell - 185
Hiring Range $21.99 - $23 per hour
Emergency/Essential Personnel No
EEO Category 6-Administrative Support
Full Time or Part Time Part Time
Telework options are subject to change based on business needs- No
No
Up to 29 hours per week. Hours may include day, evenings, and weekends.
Sensitive Position No
Southwest Virginia Community College ( SWCC ) offers career-training programs in numerous technical, industrial and medical fields at a reasonable cost, going so far as to even waive tuition for certain eligible students. Located in Richlands, Virginia, Southwest offers associate’s degrees in such fields as business, education, general studies, liberal arts and science. These degrees are primarily intended for students who wish to transfer to a four‑year university. Southwest also has associate’s degrees that feature programs intended to lead directly to a career in fields such as Nursing, Radiography and Administration of Justice.
The Student Engagement and Retention Specialist is a part‑time position dedicated to increasing student success, sense of belonging, and persistence through proactive outreach, early intervention, and student engagement initiatives. This role supports student retention efforts by identifying and assisting at‑risk students while also leading key engagement activities that foster connection to the institution, including the annual Back‑to‑School Bash, Welcome Tents, and End‑of‑Year Student Celebration.
Working collaboratively with Academic Advising, Enrollment Services, Financial Aid, and campus partners, the Specialist helps remove barriers to student success while creating meaningful opportunities for students to engage with the college community.
- Coordinate and lead planning efforts for the annual Back-to-School Bash.
- Collaborate with campus departments, student organizations, and community partners to develop event programming.
- Coordinate logistics including vendor communication, promotional activities, event schedules, and student participation.
- Assess event participation and student feedback to improve future engagement opportunities.
- Organize and staff Welcome Tents during the first week of each semester.
- Provide new and returning students with information regarding campus resources, services, and upcoming events.
- Serve as a visible and approachable point of contact to answer student questions and facilitate connections with support services.
- Coordinate volunteers and campus partners participating in Welcome Tent activities.
- Plan and coordinate the annual End-of-Year Student Celebration recognizing student involvement, achievements, and persistence.
- Work collaboratively with Student Affairs and campus departments to develop event programming and recognition opportunities.
- Promote student participation and collect event assessment data to measure student engagement outcomes.
- Monitor and provide outreach to the early alert student lists at the beginning of each semester.
- Conduct proactive outreach to students identified as high risk based on academic, financial, enrollment, or engagement indicators.
- Contact students prior to enrollment cancellation deadlines to address barriers and encourage enrollment completion.
- Manage and support outreach efforts related to institutional retention reports.
- Develop intervention plans and track student responses and outcomes.
- Partner with Academic Advising to coordinate intervention efforts for students at risk of stopping out or withdrawing.
- Conduct triage calls, emails, and text outreach to assess student needs and connect them with appropriate campus resources.
- Assist students with navigating issues related to registration, financial aid, academic concerns, and institutional processes.
- Support targeted retention campaigns before census, drop, and withdrawal deadlines.
- Promote participation in engagement opportunities that strengthen students’ connection to the institution.
- Maintain accurate records of outreach attempts, student contacts, engagement activities, and intervention outcomes within institutional systems.
- Track student participation in engagement programs and follow‑up support services.
- Prepare reports on outreach efforts, event participation, student needs, and retention outcomes.
- Analyze student engagement data to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
- Work closely with Advising, Enrollment Management, Financial Aid, Student Affairs, faculty, and student organizations to coordinate support services and engagement opportunities.
- Attend retention and student success meetings and contribute strategic recommendations based on student trends and outreach results.
- Serve as a resource for students requiring assistance navigating institutional services.
- Support cross‑departmental efforts that enhance student belonging and persistence.
Instructional faculty must reside in the state of Virginia or be available to teach in‑person classes at Southwest Virginia Community College (Southwest) locations: Main Campus, Lebanon, Bluefield, Southern Gap, or at any assigned location within our service area.
May be required to perform other duties as assigned. May be required to assist the agency or state government generally in the event of an emergency declaration by the Governor.
- Experience working with students in higher education, advising, student activities, enrollment services, or customer service environments.
- Strong interpersonal, communication, organizational, and problem‑solving skills.
- Ability to manage multiple projects and events while maintaining attention to detail.
- Ability to manage sensitive student information with confidentiality.
- Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Education, Student Affairs, Counseling, Social Work, Communications, Event Management, or a related field.
- Experience planning events, student programs, or engagement initiatives preferred.
- Experience with student information systems, CRM platforms, retention software, or event management systems preferred.
Operation of a State Vehicle No
Supervises Employees No
Posting Number WGE_3488P
Recruitment Type General Public - G
Number of Vacancies 1
Job Open Date 10/13/2026
Job Close Date 10/27/2026
Open Until Filled No
Agency Website www.sw.edu
Contact Name Human Resources
Email hr@sw.edu
Phone Number 276-964-7339
In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth's Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly called a Certificate of Disability) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans may also apply via the AHP if they also provide an AHP Letter. To request an AHP Letter, use this link: https://www.dars.virginia.gov/drs/cpid/PWContact.aspx or call DARS at 800-552-5019, or DBVI at 800-622-2155
To be considered for this position, you must complete the full state application. Please visit www.jobs.vccs.edu to apply.
The selected candidate’s offer is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background investigation, which may include: fingerprint checks, local agency checks, employment verification, verification of education, credit checks (relevant to employment). Additionally, selected candidates may be required to complete the Commonwealth’s Statement of Economic Interest. For more information, please follow this link: http://ethics.dls.virginia.gov/
The Virginia Community College System ( VCCS ) provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, political affiliation, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or other non‑merit factors.
The Virginia Community College System ( VCCS ) is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Acts ( ADA and ADAAA ), to provide, reasonable accommodation to applicants in need of access to the application, interviewing, and selection processes when requested.
VCCSuses E-Verify to check employee eligibility to work in the United States. You will be required to complete an I-9 form and provide documentation of your identity for employment purposes.
- * I understand that this is a part‑time position. In consideration thereof, I wish to proceed with the completion of my application.
- No response.
- Yes.
- No.
- * I understand this position is not a remote position and I will be required to work in person.
- Yes
- No
- * Are you applying for this position to satisfy an OPT training requirement for your educational program?
- Yes
- No
- * Do you now or in the future require visa sponsorship to work in the United States?
- Yes
- No
- * I understand that only information provided at the time of the application submission will be considered when determining my qualifications and only responses to Supplemental Questions that can be verified in my application and resume will be credited.
- Yes
- No
- * I understand this position is located in Southwest Virginia and I will be required to reside in Virginia or a border state.
- Yes
- No
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